On 24 June 1944, while transporting troops in support of the Normandy landing, the British transport Derrycunihy was sunk. An acoustic or 'Oyster' mine, dropped by one of the nightly Luftwaffe raiders, exploded under the keel and split the ship in two. Of those aboard 183 troops were killed and about 120 others wounded. 25 of the ship's crew were also killed, which was the biggest single loss of life off the Normandy invasion beaches.